Child-resistant cap and container assembly

ABSTRACT

A child-resistant container assembly for selectively storing materials is provided. The child-resistant container assembly includes a cap and a container. The cap has a top wall and a sidewall. First and second levers are positioned in respective gaps in the sidewall and are pivotably connected thereto via hinges. The container includes a neck positioned at an upper end thereof, having a radially outwardly extending, circumferentially tapering locking rib. The locking rib defines at least one locking edge, at a largest diameter of the locking rib, and at least one base edge, at a smallest diameter of the locking rib. To remove the cap from the container, the first and second levers are manually pivoted to clear the at least one locking edge, in order to permit sufficient rotation of the cap relative to the container to remove the cap from the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/990,418, filed on May 8, 2014, entitled “Child-Resistant Cap andContainer Assembly,” the entire contents of which are incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The preferred invention relates generally to container assemblies and,more specifically, to a combination container and a removable, singlewall child-resistant cap that remains generally easy to open by elderlyusers.

Container assemblies for pharmaceutical or nutritional products as wellas other components are known. Container assemblies typically include acap for containing a pharmaceutical or nutritional product within abottle or other container. The cap may be “child-resistant,” which canmean that the cap is relatively difficult for children to remove fromthe container and/or the cap has passed performance tests with respectto a degree or level of difficulty for children and seniors in removingthe cap from the container.

Conventional child-resistant caps may require squeezing sides of the capwhile simultaneously turning the cap relative to the container to openthe container or remove the cap from the container. The cap may includea threaded inner wall that engages matching threads located on thebottle neck and an outer wall that can be squeezed on either side todeform the shape of the closure. The inner wall and outer wall of suchexisting caps essentially create a cap within a cap that is difficult tomanufacture and relatively expensive. When the outer wall of the knowncap is squeezed at the designated opposing sides toward the inner wall,the deformed oval shape of the outer wall allows locking lugs located onthe inside of the outer wall to move outward and away from matching lugson the bottle. The lugs extend upwardly from a shelf on the bottle,thereby forming a generally U-shape with the neck of the bottle that isalso difficult to manufacture. Such a design is shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,927,526, wherein the bottle locking lugs are located in a positionwhere the neck meets the body of the bottle. Such lugs located where theneck meets the body can be difficult to manufacture, particularly ifusing a blow molding process. Such double-wall closures andcorresponding bottles are expensive to manufacture, difficult tomanufacture, often result in out of tolerance goods that must berejected and difficult to use.

It would be desirable to design and construct a container assembly thedoes not require full deformation of the cap to open and a bottle thathas locking lugs located in a position that are readily manufacturablewhen compared to those of conventional containers or bottles. Theassembly of the present invention overcomes and/or eliminates at leastone of the above or other shortcomings of the conventional devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention isdirected to a child-resistant container assembly for selectively storingmaterials. The child-resistant container assembly comprises a cap havinga top wall and a sidewall or skirt extending downwardly from the topwall to a terminal end and having internal threads defined on aninternal surface thereof. A first gap is defined in the sidewall and asecond opposing gap is defined in the sidewall. A first lever ispositioned substantially in the first gap and connected to the sidewallby a first hinge or torsional stress member, and a second lever ispositioned substantially in the second gap and connected to the sidewallby a second hinge or torsional stress member. The first and secondlevers include respective first and second proximal ends, respectivefirst and second distal ends, and a generally smooth interior surfaceextending between the proximal and distal ends thereof. The respectivedistal ends of the first and second levers extend downwardly past theterminal end of the sidewall or the skirt.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to acontainer assembly comprising a container having a cylindrical body, anupper end and a lower end, a shoulder and a neck positioned at the upperend. The neck has external threads formed on an external surface thereoffor mating with internal threads of the cap. A circumferentiallytapering locking rib extends radially outwardly from the externalsurface of the neck between the external threads and the shoulder, anddefines at least one locking edge at a largest diameter of the lockingrib, and at least one base edge, at a smallest diameter of the lockingrib. The at least one locking edge of the locking rib impacts at leastone of the first and second levers in a locked position of the cap,thereby resisting sufficient rotation of the cap relative to thecontainer to remove the cap from the container. The first and secondlevers are manually pivotable about the first and second hinges ortorsional stress members, respectively, such that the first and secondproximal ends pivot radially inwardly toward one another and the firstand second distal ends pivot radially outwardly away from one another,thereby clearing the at least one locking edge and permitting sufficientrotation of the cap relative to the container to remove the cap from thecontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presentlypreferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container assembly in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side perspective view of a container of the container assemblyof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a cap of the container assemblyof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a magnified side perspective view of the container assembly ofFIG. 1, focusing on a lever and associated torsional stress member ofthe cap and a locking rib of the container, wherein the cap ispositioned in a locked position relative to the container; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. Unless specifically set forth herein, theterms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but insteadshould be read as meaning “at least one”. The words “right,” “left,”“lower,” “upper” and words of similar import designate directions in thedrawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” or “distally”and “outwardly” or “proximally” refer to directions toward and awayfrom, respectively, the geometric center or orientation of the deviceand related parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listedwords, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a container assembly, generally designated 10,includes a container 12 and a cap 14. The container assembly 10 may beused for storing and/or dispensing pharmaceutical or nutritionalproducts, such as tablets, caplets, capsules or other forms ofmedication. The container assembly 10 is not limited to storingpharmaceutical or nutritional products and may store nearly any productthat is able to fit into the container 12. The container assembly 10 mayalso be used for storing materials other than medication, such as apowder for drug reconstitution, cleaners, industrial chemicals or otherrelated materials that are preferably shielded or locked from access bychildren or other categories of persons. The container 12 and cap 14 ofthe preferred container assembly 10 cooperate to selectively closeand/or open to contain or provide access to the contents of thecontainer 12. The container 12 is preferably formed of a polymericmaterial, such as a high density polyethylene (HDPE) or any materialthat is appropriate for the contents to be stored in the container 12,is able to be formed into the general size and shape of the container 12and is able to withstand the normal operating conditions of thecontainer 12. The cap 14 is preferably formed of a polymeric material,such as material exhibiting elastic and shape memory characteristics.The cap 14 may be constructed of various polymeric materials, forexample, polypropylene or other related materials. The container 12 andcap 14 are not limited to constructions using polymeric materials andmay be constructed of nearly any material that is able to take on thegeneral size and shape of the container 12 and cap 14, perform thepreferred functions of the container 12 and cap 14, as are described ingreater detail below, and withstand the normal operating conditions ofthe container 12 and cap 14.

As used herein, the term “container” refers to any type of storagereceptacle for holding solid, liquid or gaseous material, including butnot limited to bottles, vials, tubes, vessels, or other receptacles,having at least one opening for depositing or dispensing contentstherefrom. The term “cap” refers to any type of closure for closing theopening of a container, including but not limited to lids, covers andseals. The term “child-resistant” as used herein means that the cap 14may be difficult for a child to remove from the container 12 or has beentested to qualify as a “child-resistant” cap.

Referring to FIG. 3, the container 12 preferably has a generallycylindrical body 12 a defining a cavity or containment area 16 therein.The container 12 is not limited to having the generally cylindrical body12 a and may have any number of cross-sectional configurations,including cylindrical, oblong, rectangular, cube-shaped, box-shaped,polygonal or nearly any size and/or shape that is desired by the user ordesigner. The body 12 a preferably has a first or upper end 12 b and anopposing second or lower end 12 c. The first end 12 b preferablyincludes a shoulder 18 that separates the cylindrical body 12 a from aneck 20 of the container 12 and an opening 22 at the top of the neck 20.The opening 22 preferably provides access into the containment area 16,so that medication, nutritional products or other components can bedeposited into the container 12 and dispensed from the container 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cap 14 preferably includes a top wall 14 a anda skirt or sidewall 14 b that extends downwardly from the top wall 14 a.The sidewall 14 b preferably includes interior threads 24 a on theinside of the sidewall 14 b that interact with external threads 24 b onan external surface of the neck 20. The interior threads 24 a on the cap14 interact with the external threads 24 b to selectively secure the cap14 to the container 12 and selectively remove the cap 14 from thecontainer 12. The cap 14 and container 12 are not limited to inclusionof the internal 24 a and external threads 24 b and may includealternative engagement mechanisms and/or methods, such as a clampingmechanism, a ratchet mechanism or other mechanisms or systems thatpermit selective engagement of the cap 14 to the container 12 such thatthe top wall 14 a covers the opening 22 in a closed or mountedconfiguration.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the skirt or sidewall 14 b of the cap 14preferably includes a terminal end 14 c that is spaced from the top wall14 a with the internal threads 24 a positioned on the internal surfaceof the sidewall 14 b between the top wall 14 a and the terminal end 14c. A pair of gaps 26 is preferably defined in the sidewall 14 b andlevers 28 are positioned in the gaps 26 that are substantially separatedfrom the top wall 14 a. The levers 28 are preferably movably attached tothe sidewalls 14 b such that the levers 28 are movable when a usergrasps and squeezes the levers 28. The levers 28 are preferablyconnected to the sidewall 14 b by torsional stress members or hinges 30that connect to sides of the levers 28 and the sidewalls 14 a at edgesof the gaps 26. As shown best in FIG. 2, the torsional stress members 30corresponding to each of the levers 28 are each comprised of a pair ofmembers extending from side surfaces of the respective levers 28. In theillustrated embodiment, the pair of members have substantially ovalcross-sections. However, the members are not limited to having ovalcross-sections, but may alternatively define different cross-sectionalshapes such as round, square, rectangular or the like. The cap 14 is notlimited to including two levers 28 in two gaps 26 formed in thesidewalls 14 b and the cap 14 may include only a single lever in asingle gap or may include more than two levers and gaps in the cap 14.The pair of levers 28 in the two gaps 26 are preferred to simplifyoperation of the container assembly 10 for the user and for relativeease of manufacture. Each of the levers 28 preferably includes a distalend 28 a that extends downwardly beyond the terminal end 14 c of thesidewall 14 b, a proximal end 28 b that is positioned above thetorsional stress members 30 and extends to a position preferably,substantially even with the top wall 14 a, and a generally smoothinterior surface extending between the proximal and distal ends 28 b, 28a. The levers 28 are not limited to being connected to the sidewall 14 bwith the torsional stress members 30 and may be connected by mechanicalhinges, mechanisms, assemblies or other devices that permit pivoting ormovement of the levers 28 relative to the sidewalls 14 b. Preferably,the torsional stress members 30 accommodate pivoting of the levers 28such that the distal ends 28 a move away from a central cap axis 14 d ofthe cap 14 when the proximal ends 28 b are depressed toward the centralcap axis 14 d, as is described in greater detail below.

The preferred cap 14 includes gripping surfaces 38 at least partiallyformed on the top wall 14 a and the sidewall 14 b that facilitategrasping of the cap 14 by the user and rotation of the cap 14 relativeto the container 12. The gripping surfaces 38 are comprised of aplurality of gripping ribs 38 in the preferred embodiment that extendoutwardly from the top wall 14 a and the sidewalls 14 b, having asubstantially consistent external diameter. The gripping surfaces 38 arenot limited to being comprised of the gripping ribs 38 and may becomprised of nearly any surface treatment or feature that facilitatesgripping of the cap 14 by the user for rotation of the cap 14 relativeto the container 12. The gripping surfaces 38 may be comprised ofsurface depressions, dots, knurled surfaces or other surface treatmentsthat facilitate gripping by the user.

In the preferred embodiment, the container 12 includes acircumferentially tapering locking rib 32 that protrudes radiallyoutwardly from the neck 20 between the external threads 24 b and theshoulder 18. The locking rib 32 is preferably integrally formed with thecontainer 12 and includes a first circumferentially tapering rib portion32 a and a second circumferentially tapering rib portion 32 b. The firstand second rib portions 32 a, 32 b preferably circumferentially taperfrom a respective locking edge 34, that has a first diameter relative toa central container axis 12 d, to a respective base edge 36, that has asecond diameter relative to the central container axis 12 d. The firstdiameter is greater than the second diameter to define the locking edges34, which are preferably defined at opposing sides of the container 12on the locking rib 32. The locking rib 32 is not limited to includingtwo opposing base edges 36 and locking edges 34 and may include a singlelocking edge and a single base edge or multiple additional locking edgesand base edges, but the two opposing base edges 36 and locking edges 34are preferred and correspond to the pair of levers 28 such that thelevers 28 interact with the base edges 36 and the locking edges 34during use.

The first and second rib portions 32 a, 32 b preferably taper relativelysmoothly in a circumferential direction from the locking edge 34 to thebase edge 36 to facilitate sliding of the distal ends 28 a of the levers28 along the locking rib 32 in a cap closing direction, as will bedescribed in greater detail below, but are not so limited and may havenearly any size and/or shape that permits engagement with the levers 28to permit tightening of the cap 14 onto the neck 20 of the container 12and resistance of removal of the cap 14 from the container 12 byresisting movement of the levers 28 relative to the locking rib 32 in aloosening direction, as will also be described in greater detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, in the preferred embodiment, a first lockingsurface 35 a is define between the locking edge 34 of the first lockingrib 32 a and the base edge 36 of the second locking rib 32 b. The firstlocking surface 35 a extends substantially perpendicularly outwardlyfrom an outside surface of the neck 20. The first locking surface 35 apreferably engages the side of one of the levers 28 in the mounted orlocked configuration to prevent opening rotation of the cap 14 relativeto the container 12. The container 12 also preferably includes a secondlocking surface (not shown) defined between the locking edge 34 of thesecond locking rib 32 b and the base edge 36 of the first locking rib 32a. The first and second locking surfaces 35 a are not limited toextending substantially perpendicularly outwardly relative to the outersurface of the neck 20, but preferably extend outwardly to create animpediment or block to limit or prevent rotation of the cap 14 relativeto the container 12 until the levers 28 are pivoted such that the distalends 28 a clear the locking edged 34, as is described in greater detailbelow. The first and second locking surfaces 35 a are also not limitedto being constructed of surfaces and may be comprised of undercuts (notshown) that engage protrusions (not shown) on the levers 28 that preventoutward movement of the distal ends 28 a away from the neck 20 until thecap 14 is moved a predetermined distance in the closing directionrelative to the container 12 so that the protrusions move out of theundercuts.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, in operation, medication or other material isinserted into the container 12 through the opening 22 for storage. Thecap 14 is placed over the opening 22 and the user grasps the grippingsurfaces 38 with one hand while holding the container 12 with theopposite hand or otherwise securing the container 12 from rotationalmovement relative to the cap 14. The cap 14 is preferably rotated in aclockwise direction, as instructed by a “TO CLOSE” arrow 40 (See FIG. 6)to engage the internal threads 24 a of the cap 14 with the externalthreads 24 b of the container 12. The distal ends 28 a of the levers 28move downwardly toward the shoulder 18 and come into contact with thelocking rib 32 as the cap 14 moves toward the container 12. Thetorsional stress members 30 facilitate pivoting of the distal end 28 aaway from the central cap axis 14 d and pivoting of the proximal end 28b toward the central cap axis 14 d as the distal end 28 a slides alongthe taper of the locking rib 32 from the base edge 36 toward the lockingedge 34. The distal end 28 a rides along the locking rib 32 until thedistal ends 28 a slide over the locking edges 34.

When respective trailing edges of the distal ends 28 a clear the lockingedge 34, the torsional stress members 30 cause the distal ends 28 a topivot inwardly toward the central cap axis 14 d, preferably creating anaudible “click” as the distal ends 28 a impact the locking rib proximatethe base edge 36 of the locking rib 32. The audible “click” is preferredto provide an audible indication to the user that the cap 14 is fullyseated on the container 12 and is located in its locked position. Thecontainer assembly 10 may then be stored for later use with the cap 14secured to the container in this locked position. If a child or otherindividual attempts to remove the cap 14 from the container 12, rotationof the cap 14 relative to the container 12 in a counterclockwisedirection, per the “TO OPEN” arrow 42 of FIG. 6, results in the distalends 28 a of the levers 28 impacting the locking edges 34 and resistingremoval of the cap 14 from the container 12.

To remove the cap 14 from the container 12, the user squeezes theproximal ends 28 b of the levers 28 toward each other and toward thecentral cap axis 14 d. When the proximal ends 28 b are squeezed, thedistal ends 28 a of the levers 28 pivot radially outwardly about pivotaxes 31 defined by the torsional stress members 30. The application ofsufficient force to the proximal ends 28 b causes the distal ends 28 ato pivot to a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the lockingedges 34 from the central cap axis 14 d, i.e., the distal ends 28 aclear the locking edges 34. The user concurrently grasps the grippingsurfaces 38 to rotate the cap 14 relative to the container 12 in thecounterclockwise direction, as indicated by the “TO OPEN” arrow 42. Thepivoting of the distal ends 28 a away from the central cap axis 14 dpermits the distal ends 28 a to clear the locking edges 34 during thecounterclockwise rotation. After approximately one-quarter turn of thecap 14 relative to the container 12, the distal ends 28 a are able toslide along the first and second rib portions 32 a, 32 b of the lockingrib 32 while the cap 14 is further rotated relative to the container 12.Continued rotation of the cap 14 relative to the container 12 results indisengagement of the internal threads 24 a from the external threads 24b and the cap 14 may be removed from the container 12. The medication orother materials may be removed from the container 12 and the cap 14 maybe re-attached to the container 12 for subsequent storage, as wasdescribed above.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiment described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the present disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A child-resistant container assembly for selectivelystoring materials, the child-resistant container assembly comprising: acap having a top wall and a sidewall extending from the top wall to aterminal end and having internal threads defined on an internal surfacethereof, a first gap defined in the sidewall and a second opposing gapdefined in the sidewall, a first lever positioned substantially in thefirst gap and connected to the sidewall by a first hinge, a second leverpositioned substantially in the second gap and connected to the sidewallby a second hinge, the first and second levers including respectivefirst and second proximal ends, respective first and second distal ends,and each of the first and second levers having a generally smoothinterior surface extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof,the respective distal ends of the first and second levers extendingdownwardly past the terminal end of the sidewall; and a containerincluding a cylindrical body, an upper end and a lower end, a shoulderand a neck positioned at the upper end, the neck having external threadsformed on an external surface thereof for mating with the internalthreads of the cap, a circumferentially tapering locking rib extendingradially outwardly from the external surface of the neck between theexternal threads and the shoulder, the locking rib defining at least onelocking edge at a largest diameter of the locking rib, and at least onebase edge at a smallest diameter of the locking rib, wherein the firstand second levers are configured such that the at least one locking edgeof the locking rib impacts at least one of the first and second leversin a locked position of the cap, thereby resisting rotation of the caprelative to the container to remove the cap from the container, thefirst and second levers being manually pivotable about the first andsecond hinges, respectively, such that the first and second proximalends pivot radially inwardly toward one another and the first and seconddistal ends pivot radially outwardly away from one another, therebyclearing the at least one locking edge and permitting sufficientrotation of the cap relative to the container to remove the cap from thecontainer.
 2. The child-resistant container assembly of claim 1, whereinthe first and second hinges of the cap are torsional stress members. 3.The child-resistant container assembly of claim 1, wherein the capfurther comprises a plurality of vertical ribs located circumferentiallyaround the sidewall and spanning between an upper end and the terminalend of the cap, the plurality of vertical ribs having a substantiallyconsistent external diameter.
 4. The child-resistant container assemblyof claim 1, wherein the first and second levers, the locking rib and theneck are configured such that an audible sound confirms that the cap hasreached the locked position when the cap is rotated onto the container.5. The child-resistant container assembly of claim 4, wherein theaudible sound is created by tension of the first and second levers onthe locking rib of the container after respective trailing edges of thefirst and second levers pass over the at least one locking edge of thelocking rib, thereby causing the first and second levers to snapinwardly onto the neck of the container.
 6. The child-resistantcontainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking rib includes a firstcircumferentially tapering rib portion and a second circumferentiallytapering rib portion, the first and second rib portions being configuredto slidably engage the respective smooth interior surfaces of the firstand second levers as the cap is rotated relative to the container. 7.The child-resistant container assembly of claim 6, wherein a first ofthe at least one locking edge is defined at a largest diameter of thefirst rib portion and a second of the at least one locking edge isdefined at a largest diameter of the second rib portion.
 8. Thechild-resistant container assembly of claim 7, wherein a first of the atleast one base edge is defined at a smallest diameter of the first ribportion and a second of the at least one base edge is defined at asmallest diameter of the second rib portion.
 9. The child-resistantcontainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking edgeincludes a first locking edge and a second locking edge.
 10. Thechild-resistant container assembly of claim 9, wherein the first lockingedge is positioned on an opposite side of the neck relative to thesecond locking edge.
 11. The child-resistant container assembly of claim9, wherein the at least one base edge includes a first base edge and asecond base edge.
 12. The child-resistant container assembly of claim11, wherein a first locking surface is defined between the first baseedge and the first locking edge, the first locking surface extendingsubstantially perpendicularly outwardly from an outside surface of theneck.
 13. A child-resistant container assembly for selectively storingmaterials, the child-resistant container assembly comprising: a caphaving a top wall and a sidewall extending from the top wall to aterminal end and having internal threads defined on an internal surfacethereof, a first gap defined in the sidewall and a second opposing gapdefined in the sidewall, a first lever positioned substantially in thefirst gap and connected to the sidewall by a first torsional stressmember extending from sides of the first lever, a second leverpositioned substantially in the second gap and connected to the sidewallby a second torsional stress member extending from sides of the secondlever, the first torsional stress member defining a first pivot axis andthe second torsional stress member defining a second pivot axis, thefirst and second levers including respective first and second proximalends, respective first and second distal ends, and each of the first andsecond levers having a generally smooth interior surface extendingbetween the proximal and distal ends thereof, the respective distal endsof the first and second levers extending downwardly past the terminalend of the sidewall; and a container including a cylindrical body, anupper end and a lower end, a shoulder and a neck positioned at the upperend, the neck having external threads formed on an external surfacethereof for mating with the internal threads of the cap, acircumferentially tapering locking rib extending radially outwardly fromthe external surface of the neck between the external threads and theshoulder, the locking rib defining at least one locking edge at alargest diameter of the locking rib, and at least one base edge at asmallest diameter of the locking rib, wherein the first and secondlevers are configured such that the at least one locking edge of thelocking rib impacts at least one of the first and second levers in alocked position of the cap, thereby resisting rotation of the caprelative to the container to remove the cap from the container, thefirst and second levers being pivotable about the first and second pivotaxes, respectively, from a biased configuration wherein the interiorsurfaces of the first and second levers define a biased diameter, thebiased diameter being less than the largest diameter of the locking rib.14. The child-resistant container assembly of claim 13, wherein thefirst torsional stress member is comprised of a pair of membersextending from side surfaces of the first lever, the pair of membershaving substantially oval cross-sections.
 15. The child-resistantcontainer assembly of claim 14, wherein the first pivot axis extendsthrough the pair of members.
 16. The child-resistant container assemblyof claim 13, wherein the cap and the container are constructed of apolymeric material.
 17. The child-resistant container assembly of claim16, wherein the container is constructed of a high density polyethylenematerial.
 18. The child-resistant container assembly of claim 16,wherein the cap is constructed of a material exhibiting elastic andshape memory characteristics.
 19. The child-resistant container assemblyof claim 16, wherein the cap is constructed of a polypropylene material.20. The child-resistant container assembly of claim 13, wherein thefirst and second levers, the locking rib and the neck are configuredsuch that an audible sound confirms that the cap has reached the lockedposition when the cap is rotated onto the container